The Conservative Party chairman failed his science O-level, it has emerged, a
year after he admitted deleting his academic record from Wikipedia.

Grant Shapps, the Tory chairman, last year admitted changing his online profile that said he obtained “four O-levels including an A in CDT” at Watford Grammar School for Boys. His spokesman declined to give his grades, and said the entry was incorrect because Shapps in fact had five O-levels.

In fact, Shapps passed six O-levels: C-grades in maths, English language and English literature; a B in Geography and an B in CDT.

He also received a U in combined science.

Mr Shapps revealed his mixed academic record while opening the science wing of his school earlier this year.

A Tory source said: “It goes to show you can go on to do great things, even if you don’t excel at school.”

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Other Wikipedia edits made by the Tory chairman included removing unflattering references to donations and adding glowing testimony to his work with the homeless.

After leaving Watford Grammar Mr Shapps studied at a local college before taking a business and finance diploma at Manchester Polytechnic. In 1990, Mr Shapps founded printing and marketing firm in London.

In 2005 Mr Shapps set up a get-rich-quick web sales business HowToCorp under the name Michael Green, and was photographed at business seminars wearing a Michael Green name badge.

His publications included the book How To Get Stinking Rich.

He has insisted he is “absolutely not embarrassed” about building up a successful business, and contrasted his career outside politics to those of his Labour counterparts.

“It was a conference joke. Everyone knew who I was. It was not a secret, never was,” he said.

Mr Shapps joins former Prime Minister Sir John Major in having a less than distinguished academic record. Sir John left school with three O-levels at the age of sixteen, before continuing to study by correspondence course.